Aeg lamp



(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 1 LA MOTTE G. ATWOOD.

ARC LAMP.

No. 404,244. Patented May 28, 1889.

in mm! (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. LA MOTTE G. A-TWOOD.

ARC LAMP.

Patented May 28. 1889.

32 Inventor:

( 4 M W @dbg/w UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LA MOTTE C. ATXVOOD, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-IIALF TO FRANK T. ROBINSON, OF SAME PLACE.

ARC LAM P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 404,244, dated May 28, 1889.

Application filed February 17, 1888. Serial No. 264,868. (No model.)

To all 107mm it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, LA Morrn O. Arwoon, of the city of St. Louis, in the State of Mis souri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electric Lights, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which Figure I is a side elevation of my improved electric light. Fig. II is a transverse section taken on. line II II, Fig. I. Fig. III is a detail view showing the brake in a different position from that shown in Fig. I. Fig. IV is a [5 front elevation. Fig. V is a detail elevation of the upper portion of the apparatus. Fig. VI is a vertical section taken. on line VI VI,

. Fig. IV.

My invention relates to a device or appa- 2o ratus particularly intended to be used as a head-light for locomotives, signal-lights, focus-lights, &c., though I do not confine myself to any particular use to which it may be put.

My invention consists in features of novelty hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a suitable base supporting the parts.

2 represents the main wire, through which the electric current passes from a bindingpost, To this binding-post would also be connected the wire (not shown) from the dynamo or generator. The current passes 3 5 through the wire 2t0 a binding-post, 4, and

from this post through a wire, 5, into themagnets 6 of a motor. From the magnets the current passes through a wire, 7, to a bar, 9, and from the bar 9 through a wire, 10, to the brush 11 of the brake and motor. From here the current passes through a wire, 19, to a binding-post, 13, and from here through a wire, 14, to a lifting-magnet, 15. From the magnet 15 the current passes through a wire, 16, to a binding-post,17,011 a bracket, 17:}, sccured to a frame, 18, supported by the base 1. It then passes through a lever, 30, to a head, 20, (see Fig. VL) on the upper end of a screw, 21, and from here to an arm, 22,.to the upper carbon, 23.

It passes down the upper carbon,

23, to a lower carbon, 2-1, and from here out through a wire, 25, to a binding-post, 26, with which connects a main wire (not shown) leading back to the dynamo. \Vhen the circuit is closed, the magnet 15 draws down an armature, 27, pivoted to the frame 18 at 28, (see Fig. IV,) and in doing so lifts the upper carbon, forming the are. It lifts the carbon through means of a connection consisting of a bar or red, 29, connected at its lower end to the armature and atits upper end to the outer end of the lever 30. The lever 30 is pivoted at 31 to the bracket 1?}, and its inner end is bifurcated, and is secured at 32 to the head 20 of the screwQl, the head being secured to the screw 21 by means of a set-screw, It will thus be seen that when the outer end of the lever 80 is pulled down by the armature the screw 21 will be raised, and as itis raised it carries with it the arm 22, which supports the upper carbon, the arm 22 being capable of vertical movement, it being held in the frame 18, as shown in Fig. IV, by simple lugs 0r projections 34: on its outer ends, which embrace the frame but are not secured to it. This action then of the parts lifts the upper carbon from the lower one and produces the are.

My preferred means of connecting the upper carbon to the arm 22 is by means of ahollow conical shaped tube, 35, on the outer end of the arm, in which fits a conical head, 36, on the upper end of the carbon. The head is held from upward movement in the tube by means of a pin, 37, having a head, 38, on its lower end, which bears against the top of the carbon, and it is forced down upon the carbon by means of a lever, 39, pivot-ed at t0 to the outer end of the arm 22, and the inner end of which engages beneath a catch, -11, secured to the arm 22, as shown in Fig. VI. I prefer to place a spring, I 2, between the lever 29 and the head 38 of the pin, so that there will always be a pressure of the pin upon the carbon. \Vhen a carbon is to be inserted, the lever 35') is turned slightly to disengage it from the hook t1, and is then thrown back on its pivot e0. lVhen the carbon is inserted, the lever is thrown forward again and turned under the catch ll, as shown. The lower carbon is supported in substantially the same manner onan arm, 43, fitting and working vertically on a lower screw, 44.

45 represents the conical tube of the lower carbon; 46, the lever pivoted at 47; 48, the hook or catch with which the free end of the lever is made to engage; 49, the pin having the head 50, and 51 the spring located between the head 50 on the pin and the lever 46.

The wire 25 is connected to the pin 49 by means of a screw, 52. The screws 21 and 44 are connected at their adjacent ends, preferably by means of a reduced neck, 53, on one of them, which fits into a hole or opening, 54, in the other. IVhen the neck is inserted into the hole, a key, 55, is applied. The screws are thus made to turn together, and for the purpose of allowing the upper screw, 21, to be lifted in forming the are, as stated, I make a slot, 56, in its lower end beneath the key 55, so that this screw can be raised without lifting the screw 44, and thus the carbons are made to separate. The upper screw is held down in normal position by a spring, 19. (See Fig. VI.) WVhen the light is working, and as the carbons become reduced, they are made to approach each other automatically by means of the turning of the screws 21 and 44 in the heads 22 and 43, the heads having threads meshing into the threads of the screws.

In order to have the upper carbon fed faster than the lower one, (as it burns faster,) Imake the thread on the upper screw, 21, of a greater pitch, or make it double, as preferred. As the carbons burn away the resistance through the wire 16 increases and a current will be made to pass through a shunt-wire, 60, leading from the wire 16 to a shunt-coil, 61, supported in a frame, 62, secured to the base 2, and from the coil to the wire 25.

Above the coil 61 is an armature, 63, piv- I oted at 64 to an arm, 65, on the frame 62. The armature 63 is held up oif of the coil 61 when E in its normal position by means of a suitable f. spring, 66, to which it is connected by a rod, 1 67, passing through the lug 68, by which the 2 armature is pivoted to the arm 65. Above} the lug 68 the rod 67 is provided with an adjustable nut, 69, so that the tension of the; spring on the armature may be regulated. WVhen the current passes through the shuntwire 60, the coil 61 pulls the armature 63 downwardly, and in doing so lifts upward on 5 a link, 70, connecting the armature to a lever, The lever is pivoted at 72 to a standard, i

71. 73, on the base 2, and to its outer end is connected a lever, 74, which is pivoted at 75 to I the upper end of the standard 73.

position they bear against the wheel 79 and To the inner end of the lever 74 is secured prevent its rotation. IVhen the armature 63 is pulled down, the outer end of the lever 74 is likewise pulled down and the straps (which are connected to the lever 74 beyond the pivot 7 5) are removed from the wheel, which is then turned by the magnets 6 and brush 11. One end of the spindle 80 of the wheel is extended, as shown in Fig. IV, and has upon its extended end a worm, 81, which meshes into a wheel, 82, on the lower end of the screw 44. It will thus be seen that the turning of the wheel or drum will turn the screw 44, and the turning of the screw 44 turns the screw 21 through means of the described connections, and thus causes the heads 43 and 22 to approach each other, and thus automatically feed the carbons. As soon as the carbons approach each other, until the resistance in the wire 16 is reduced, the current ceases to pass through the shunt-wire 60 in a suificient quantity to hold the armature 63 down, and as it rises under the influence of the spring 66 the brake 76 is applied and the rotation of the drum or wheel 79, and consequently the screws 44 and 21, ceases. Thus the device operates automatically to feed the carbons. I prefer to connect the screw 44 to the wheel 82 by means of a pawl and ratchet, 88, as shown in Fig. IV, so that by raising the pawl the screws can be turned by hand to raise or lower the carbons.

The adjacent ends of the carbons are supported and guided between rollers 90, secured to the inner ends of arms 91, pivoted by shafts or journals 92 to cross-heads 93, secured to the frame 18. 011 the journals 92 are also projections 93%, against which bear springs 94, the tendency of which is to keep the inner ends of the arms 91 in their inner position, and thus keep the rollers 'against the carbons.

The tension of the springs 94 may be regulated by means of screws 95, passing through the heads 93 and having nuts 96 on their lower endsbeneath the springs. (See Figs. IV and VI.) lVith this arrangement the points of the carbons are held in line, but are still allowed to move vertically. The nuts 96 are held from turning by points 96% on the spring, (see Fig. V1,) or by other suitable means, and the screws may be held from turning by pawl and ratchets 96. (See Fig. II.) I prefer to connect the lever 71 to the brush 11 by means of a link, 11%, so that as the brake is released the brush will be brought into full working position on the magnet 6, and when the brake is applied the brush will be shifted out of working position.

When my device is used as a head or signal light, I provide a parabola or reflector, 100, through the inner end of which the carbons pass, asshown in Fig. I, the are being thus located within the parabola. A signallight thus made produces a very strong and penetrating light, and is far superior in intensity to an oil-light.

The bar or rod 29 will be insulated from IIO the armature 27, and the tube 45 will be insulated from the arm 43.

I claim as my invention- 1. In an electric light, the combination of an electric motor provided with a brake mechanism, carbons, screws supporting the carbons, shunt-coil and wire, armature operated by the shunt-coil, and connection consisting of bars and levers between the armature and the brake of the motor, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an electric light, the combination of the carbons, upper and lower screws carrying the carbons, a motor for turning the screws, and a connection between the screws, consisting of a neck on one of the screws entering a hole in the other, and a key uniting the parts, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an electric light, the combination of the carbons, upper and lower screws carrying the carbons, connection between the screws, consisting of a neck on one of the parts entering a hole in the other, a key passing through the parts, one of the parts being slotted to allow the upper screw to be lifted independently of the lower screw, and mechanism for lifting the upper screw, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In an electric light, the combination of the carbons, adjusting-screws, connection between the carbons and screws, consisting of arms having conical tubes receiving conical heads on the carbons, pins bearing on the ends of the carbons, and levers holding the pins on the carbons, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In an electric light, the combination of the carbons, adjusting-screws, arms connecting the carbons to the screws, connection between the arms aud the carbons, consisting of conical tubes, pins having heads fitting on the ends of the carbons, pivoted levers, catches under which the free ends of the levers engage, and springs between the levers and heads 011 the pins, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In an electric light, the combination of the carbons, guides consisting of rollers, arms on which the rollers are secured, journals on which the arms are secured, projections secured to the journals, springs bearing against the projections, adjusting-screws for regulating the tension of the spring, and heads through which the screws pass, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In an electric light, the combination of the carbons, adjusting-screws carrying the carbons, motor for turning the screws, and a brake mechanism consisting of straps 76 and 81, levers '71 and 74, connecting-bars '70, armature 63, shunt-coil 61, spring 66, and connection between the spring and the armature, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In an electric light, the combination of the carbons, arms 22 and 43, screws 21 and 44, motor having a wheel or drum connected to the screw 44 by worm and wheel, main wire 16, shunt-wire G0, shunt-coil 61, armature 63, and connection between the armature and the said brake wheel or drum, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In an electric light, the combination of the carbons, screws supporting the carbons, motor for turning the screws, brake for con trolling the motor, and connection between the brake and the brush of the motor, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

LA MOTTE C. ATVOOD.

In presence of GEO. H. KNIGHT, EDWD. S. KNIGHT. 

